Yamaha seeking Silverstone ‘revenge’

Beaten by Honda at Brno last Sunday, the Factory Yamaha team heads to this weekend's British MotoGP at Silverstone seeking 'revenge'.

While Honda's rookie title leader Marquez has now won the last four events in a row, Stefan Bradl and then Dani Pedrosa have also pushed the leading Yamaha to third place in the past three races.

The Brno defeat was especially disappointing. Yamaha had previously tested at the circuit, with its reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo then leading most of the race before the Marquez-Pedrosa onslaught proved too much.

“We go to Silverstone knowing that we must do something more,” said Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli. “The result of the Brno Grand Prix wasn't negative, but we want to do better. In Silverstone we want our revenge.

“Silverstone is a very fast track and is suitable enough to the characteristics of our bike. In the past we have had good results there so we go to England with optimism.”

It's now been five races since Lorenzo last stood on the top step of the MotoGP rostrum, at Catalunya in mid-June.

After that victory, his third of the year, Lorenzo was holding a close second in the world championship standings, seven points behind Pedrosa and 23 points in front of Marquez.

Collarbone injuries at Assen and Sachsenring then stunted Lorenzo's charge, coinciding with the beginning of Marquez's unbeaten run in Germany. Marquez starts Silverstone 44 points ahead of Lorenzo, with Pedrosa 26 points from the top.

“In Brno maybe I expected a little bit more, but at least I feel quite happy with my performance,” said Lorenzo, who had been visibly dejected after Brno.

“I gave all to win the race but my competitors were in a better shape there. Now we have to finish this first triple of races at Silverstone. It is a place I like and where I used to be comfortable.

“The track I think is really nice, very flowing and also suits our bike. The problem in Great Britain is always the weather; it is a very challenging grand prix because of that! Despite the conditions we will try everything as usual to try to fight for the victory and cut off the distance to our rivals.”

While Lorenzo is a past Silverstone winner, in 2010 and 2012, team-mate Valentino Rossi will be chasing his first victory at the circuit, having taken seven wins at the previous Donington Park venue.

The Italian legend, whose most recent MotoGP win was at Assen in June, has finished fourth at the last two rounds. However a Brno mishap by Cal Crutchlow means Rossi is now 16 points clear of the Englishman for fourth in the standings.

"In Brno I was hoping to go a little better and I'm glad that there is immediately the grand prix at Silverstone to get back on track,” said Rossi. “My team and I want to improve the bike to be able to keep the pace of the leaders.

“We are not far away and the grand prix at Silverstone will help us to understand something more. Silverstone is a very fast track and the Yamaha should be fine. We are ready to do our best. We want to move forward as soon as possible.”